Maisy Odjick's mom hails announcement of inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women

The mother of a missing Maniwaki, Que., teen says she's "very pleased" the Liberal government will meet with the families of missing and murdered indigenous women in Ottawa this week as it launches a national public inquiry.

On Tuesday the federal government announced the start of a two-phase inquiry. Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett said the first phase of the inquiry will determine its objectives, focus and parameters.

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Laurie Odjick's daughter Maisy Odjick was 16 when she was last seen in September 2008. She headed out to go dancing with a friend and never returned.

"It's action, it's moving forward," said Odjick of the announcement. "I'm happy that family members will be involved. That was a big thing for me, to make sure the families would be part of the process."

Odjick is travelling to Ottawa on Thursday to meet with federal government ministers.

"That's all we ever wanted, for our voices to be heard ... We want it to be done right the first time," she said.

Odjick said she would like to see the inquiry look into the relationship between police services and families of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls, and suggested sensitivity training might help.

They do matter because they're our loved ones.- Laurie Odjick

When Maisy went missing Odjick says there was no amber alert or search party.

"Nothing was done right for them and they were labelled runaways ... Labelling them, to us, seems like they don't matter and they do matter because they're our loved ones," she said.

Doubts, questions remain

Some people who work with at-risk indigenous women have questions about how the inquiry will roll out.

Mary Daoust watched the announcement from her office at Minwaashin Lodge on Lola Street. The centre offers safety and programming for indigenous women fleeing violence.

"It's going to be a slow process but at least it's the beginning of something that is positive," she said.

Elaine Kicknosway also works at Minwaashin Lodge, and has some doubts.

"Is there enough funding in the healing process? Who is speaking to the families? Do they have any experience themselves?" she asked.

In 2014 the RCMP tallied nearly 1,200 documented cases of missing and murdered aboriginal women and girls between 1980 and 2012, a number that exceeded previous official estimates.

A 2015 United Nations report found that young First Nations, Métis and Inuit women were five times more likely to die under violent circumstances than were non-aboriginal women in Canada.